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The county’s economic development staff presented a picture of Franklin County that looked much like a scale.
On one hand is lost business — punctuated by HON’s decision to close at the end of the year — and on the other is a county that’s experiencing business expansion, new jobs and commercial development.
The bottom line, staff said, is a county in flux.
“We’ve grown by 375 jobs (since 2008),” said Economic Development Director Ronnie Goswick. “We’re very fortunate to be able to hang on to them.”

Franklin County sheriff’s deputies and farmers met Monday night to discuss the rising tide of stolen equipment.
Crime Prevention Deputy Bennett Manson set up the meeting, giving farmers an opportunity to see the scale of the problem.
Most importantly, it gave law enforcement an opportunity to show what they’re doing to slow the thefts while giving farmers tips on how to prevent loss, themselves.
“We’ve had a lot of reports of farm equipment thefts, recently,” Manson said. “I don’t know if they are targeting farm equipment, or it’s just bad luck.”

Joshua Roussell sat high in the saddle, taking a slow trip around an arena at Hawk’s Nest Farm.
His horse didn’t do any jumps, tricks or twists, but the eyes of every visitor to the Franklin County Horse Farm Tour were transfixed on his ride.
His greatest feat, said his mother, was finding the courage to get aboard the horse in the first place.
Roussell is one of the children whose horizons has been expanded by Steppin’ Heaven’s GRACE (Greater Raleigh Autistic Children’s Enrichment) program — which provides therapy for autistic children through horseback riding.

Come Oct. 1, Cedric Jones won’t have to keep farmer’s hours.
After 32 years in agriculture — the last 30 in the Franklin County office and the last 24 as director of the Cooperative Extension — Jones is retiring.
“It’s been a thrill serving the people and farmers of Franklin County,” Jones said, noting that he felt it was time to step down. “I will miss it in many ways.”
Jones came to Franklin County in 1979 as an extension agent after serving two years as a vocational ag teacher at Eastern Randolph High School in Ramseur.

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Let’s see if we have this straight: The federal government, using our tax dollars, finally finds a stimulus program that works for Main Street and helps, albeit temporarily, the so-called average American -- and the program suddenly becomes a political football.
This is, of course, the same federal government that borrowed untold billions, mostly from China, to bail out the big banks who were described as “too big to fail:” spent more billions to try to prop up a part of the car manufacturing business that ultimately crashed anyway; that allowed hundreds of millions of bonuses be paid to the same morons who created the Wall Street mess as a way to entice them to stay on their jobs; and poured untold piles of money into a giant, worldwide insurance company that made some of the dumbest “bets” ever recorded in the history of mankind.

GOOD MORNING: Comments and statements attributed to County Economic Director Ronnie Goswick and others concerning possible funding for U.S. 401, make one wonder just whose side they’re on.
The truth of the matter, however, is that after almost 20 years of sucking up to the powers that be, all we’ve gained is more of the same old tired promises.
But Goswick is credited with perhaps unintentionally putting his finger squarely on the problem, “It’s politics,” Goswick reportedly told U.S. 401 Citizens Action Committee members.

After years of fiddling with an invisible line that has caused headaches for residents, county staff and attorneys alike, it seems that the aspirin has been found — leave well enough alone.
According to lore — well, really just older news stories — when surveyors mapped the county line in 1915, they used markers that included rocks, tree stumps and fences.
Many of those markers, as you can imagine, have disappeared.

Last Week’s Poll
Would You Re-Elect?With the legislature dragging on the state budget and other political shenanigans going on in state government, if the election were held today, would you re-elect Franklin County’s two state legislators?

I’ve been listening to the health care reform debate and I am personally weary with those on both ends predicting all sorts of calamities if their side doesn’t prevail. The same is true with just about every issue today, be it homosexuality, abortion or the economy. I’ve pretty much had it with both conservatives and liberals.
It isn’t hard finding conservatives. Just turn on your talk radio station or Fox News. It also isn’t hard finding liberals. They are more often on other cable networks and are newspaper columnists and editorial writers.

I am sure most of you are aware of the story of Joseph and his “coat of many colors”. He was a man who loved and trusted God. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. But he excelled in every situation and ended up as ruler over the Egyptian people. Only Pharaoh was above him. Joseph ruled Egypt from the age of 30 until his death at age 110. Joseph’s father and brothers came to Egypt and prospered.
Exodus 1:6-7 reads, “And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.” Joseph set the scene for everyone in Egypt to live abundantly and peacefully.

As a university professor, I come in contact with many foreign graduate students. Periodically I enjoy chatting with them about their impressions of our country and how those impressions might change the longer they’re here. Although attitudes and ideas certainly vary, there is one consistent comment the students tell me. They are impressed with the amount of economic freedom we Americans have.
This freedom is seen on both sides of the economic exchange. For the most part, consumers have the freedom to buy what they want, to pursue the education and occupation they desire and to save and invest money according to their own plans and goals. Similarly, sellers – for the most part – have the freedom to develop products and services they think consumers want and to sell those products.

LOUISBURG - Funeral services for Gertrude “Duck” Perry, 98, who died Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at South Main Street Baptist Church, with the Rev. David Rosby officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Stephen’s church cemetery.

JUSTICE - A memorial service for Annie Duke Wheless Dean, who died Sunday, July 12, 2009 at her home in Frederick, Md., will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at Duke Memorial Baptist Church in the Justice Community.

LOUISBURG -- Erica Wammock has never lost a league match in her three seasons as the head volleyball coach at Louisburg High School.
Of course, much of that success can be attributed to the Lady Warriors’ high level of recent talent, as LHS has reached at least the Elite Eight of the Class 1-A State Playoffs in each of those campaigns.
In Wammock’s first year in 2006, the Lady Warriors went to the Final Four, only to top that accomplishment with a state runner-up finish in 2007.

LOUISBURG - Coming into this season, the Louisburg Warriors have had only a pair of head football coaches over nearly the past two decades.
So when Chris Lee accepted the LHS job back in the spring, there was destined to be an adjustment period for the program -- especially since Lee would be installing a new wing-T offfense to replace the Warriors’ long-time wishbone approach.
But the process might not be as long as some would think, mainly because the rest of the Warriors’ coaching staff returns nearly intact from 2008.

HAVING A BALL FOR BHS. Bunn High School veteran setter Morgan Pearce seems happy to be back on the court during the first day of the Ladycats’ fall volleyball drills on Monday afternoon at the Bunn Dome. (Times photo by Geoff Neville)

BUNN -- Introductions weren’t necessary when Bunn High School’s volleyball team opened fall drills Monday afternoon.
With only three seniors departing -- and a slew of varsity talent returning -- the Ladycats have the look of a savvy, veteran contingent heading into the 2009 campaign.
Other than a few freshmen newcomers destined for junior varsity action, there were plenty of familiar faces on hand as Bunn kicked off what has the potential to be another title-contending season.

It’s that time of the year again -- fall sports practices have opened en masse at Franklin County’s three high schools.
I’ve visited three practices so far. After each one, I’ll try to relay a few of my thoughts in the next edition of The Franklin Times.
So here it goes, starting with my visits on Monday to see the Bunn volleyball, Louisburg volleyball and Louisburg football squads:
• Bunn Volleyball -- Stepping into the Bunn Dome, my first words were these:
“I’ve seen this before.’’

GREENVILLE -- Franklinton’s Red Rams made an imprint during the annual Skip Holtz East Carolina University Football Camp, which was held July 19-21 on the ECU campus in Pitt County.
Franklinton, coached by Clark Harrell, sent 35 players to the camp. The generosity of individuals and businesses helped FHS pay expenses for the trip through several fundraisers.
Camp staffers commended Franklinton’s strong offensive line play, as four Red Rams’ linemen were selected to participate (out of 300 performers) in a camp-ending blocking demonstration.

SEVIERVILLE, TENN. -- Tyler Colvin matched a Southern League record when he hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to lift Tennessee to an easy 11-1 victory over the Carolina Mudcats on Sunday at Smokies Park.
Colvin, who started the game 3-for-3, extended his hit streak to 11 consecutive at-bats, tying Mississippi’s Matt Young’s record set last season.
Bidding for sole possession of the mark, Colvin drilled a liner to right field that was caught in the fifth inning.
Colvin went 5-5 last Friday at Mobile and was 3-3 last Saturday against the Mudcats.

LIFESTYLES

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Washington Stewart Jr. of Louisburg announce the engagement of their son, Christopher Bartholomew Stewart to Allison Kathleen Drummond, both of Wilmington. The bride-elect is the daughter of Linda Karen Drummond and Joel Douglas Bucklen of Raleigh. An evening wedding is planned for Oct. 3 at the City Club at de Rosset in Wilmington.

Larry and Pam Alford of Bunn announce the engagement of their daughter, Brandy Alford to Jeremy Rogers, the son of Jackie and Debbie Rogers of Youngsville. The 4 p.m. ceremony will be conducted Oct. 10 at Poplar Spring Baptist Church, Zebulon.

SCHOOLS/EDUCATION

Trustees Tasha K. Dickinson, Helen N. Parker and J. Gilbert Stallings have awarded Alston-Pleasants Post-Graduate Scholars Fund scholarships for the 2009 fall semester to Jennifer Lundholm and Marcus T. Wilson. Awards for future semesters will be provided as appropriate to assist in their further graduate and professional studies.
Lundholm, a 2005 University of North Carolina graduate from Franklin County, is beginning her studies in the Master of Business Administration program at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

GREENSBORO – The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation (CCUF) awarded Amanda Styers of Franklinton a Scholar Vision scholarship. Styers, who is a member of Local Government Federal Credit Union, plans to attend UNC - Wilmington.

Eleven Welding Technology students at Vance-Granville Community College recently earned their national certification through the American Welding Society, bringing to 576 the total number of certified welders produced by VGCC since 1972.
The newly certified welders from VGCC’s main campus include John Wiles of Bullock; Morris Kearney of Drewry; Ronald Bullock, Jr. and Morocco Stutson, both of Henderson; Claude Crudup of Franklinton; Scott Lilley of Kittrell; Ollie Bowling, Dustin Burwell and Jason Newton, all of Oxford; and Ben Dorsey of Youngsville. Eric Joyner of Louisburg was certified after taking welding at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus.

COMMUNITY NEWS

North Carolina State University has received a five-year, $700,000 grant from the John W. Pope Foundation to support teaching and research activities on issues relating to public policy, politics, economics and law.
The funding is an extension of a previous grant from the Pope Foundation, and will continue to fund the university’s “Economic, Legal and Political Foundations of Free Societies” project, which includes a lecture series, undergraduate courses and research grants for students and faculty. The grant will also continue to support the student organization, the Society for Politics, Economics and the Law.

Army Pvt. Chance S. Hayes has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

Franklin County Clerk of Court Alice Faye Hunter, left, swears in Board of Election members, from left to right, Walter Yarbrough, Larry Tetterton and Sandra Woodland during the board’s meeting last week. Each member is returning to service.

North Star Baptist Church member Jeffrey Coogan paints the front side of the Youngsville Police Department on Monday. The congregation has undertaken a community outreach project called Hope for Youngsville to paint Town Hall, the police department and fix up other spots in town this week.

BUSINESS

GREENVILLE, N.C.—U.S. Cellular recently promoted Sylvia Stancill to business development manager for eastern North Carolina In this position, Stancill’s responsibilities will include driving business-to-business sales through the retail channel. She will create a partnership with sales leadership and retail wireless consultants to develop small business selling strategies and ensure associates have the training, resources, and guidance necessary to effectively prospect and service small businesses.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new All About Kids Learning Center, 1513 US 1 Highway in Youngsville (just north of the Youngsville Shopping Center), on Wednesday, July 22.
The Youngsville Area Business Association (YABA) hosted the event and Mayor Sam Hardwick joined owner Lindsay Smith for the ceremony. Operating hours are from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday, for children from six weeks to 12 years old. There is also an after-school program.